The {weekly} Daybook.

(first of all my window is still in tact, and beyond it . . . )

the trees still stand tall,

and the flowers still bloom,

and the neighbors house still stands,

and all looks orderly.

I’m so thankful that our two trips up the lane

to my MIL’s basement on Thursday

due to tornado warnings

were, in the end, “unnecessary.”

I had, only two hours earlier, been with Phil at the computer

clicking through photos of the tornado devastation in Alabama,

praying for people in those hard-hit areas,

and telling D about it (because friends live there).

So when the warning came to our area,

with images fresh in my mind,

we didn’t waste a second getting loaded

and driving to safety as quick as we could.

Even though I tried to explain to D that our evacuation

was probably only a precaution,

we said a quick prayer of protection on our house and lives

 as we were driving out the lane.

The thought of coming home to a destroyed home

must have been weighing on his mind

because when we came back to our house

he said in a very relieved tone,

“Mom, our house is strong!”

We expressed our thanks to the Lord,
and I pondered the opportunity for faith to grow
in the hearts of my children. Faith in a good God.
If the outcome had been different though,
as I was telling my mom,
we would then walk in faith in a different way,
and our children would learn and grow in that experience as well.
For God really is good all the time.
Not just when good things happen,
but because He is WITH us all the time.
I cannot imagine going through any hardship without Him.

. . . thinking and praying a lot for the people going through all of these tragic events in recent days
which can only be explained as acts of God.
(Oh, and please don’t be so conceited to think that we humans are the ones influencing/controlling
 the weather patterns. The earth is the Lord’s and they that dwell therein. He holds all things together~or lets them come apart?~ by the Word of His power. He is the Lord!

Also enjoyed watching some of the splendor and majesty of the royal wedding yesterday.
Made me think a lot about The Royal Wedding yet to come.
I will be there! By the grace of God I will be part of the bride of the Prince of Peace.
Oh, and just like the earthly wedding,
some people (such as a former homeless person)
whom you never would have thought would be at a “royal wedding”, will be there.
And others whom you might have thought would be there, won’t.
Not because they weren’t invited (as in the case of our President),
but because they never accepted the invitation.

beautiful sunrises~and that I have been up early enough to get out and enjoy them!

genius relatives like Tilda who know how to create splendid cowboy clothes for little boys.

 D’s excitement about his cousin’s cowboy birthday party.

Paint~and it’s many possibilities.
Tuesday Tea @ church . . . I was so blessed and inspired by this lady
who spoke to us this past week about “Saran Wrap Faith”.

Sunshine. Sunshine. Sunshine!

a little cleaning and painting is going on today.
I started painting the cupboards earlier this week
and am just now getting back to (hopefully) finish them.
It’s only the third “look” we’ve had since moving in nearly five year ago.
First it was the (fake) oak. Then husband painted them black.
I still really like the black, but we used the wrong kind of paint
so it’s always been a little “sticky” and scratches off quite easily.
For Christmas he bought me the right kind of paint in white . . .
never knew one bucket of the right kind of paint would cost a small (paint) fortune!!
So then I chickened out on using it, thinking I might regret getting rid of the black,
but knowing that our already tends-to-be-dark house could benefit from something light.
And I’m getting to it now because it was time to either
touch-up the black again or just bravely dive into the white!

I think I will like it. I’m not 100% sure yet.
But I have been talking to myself about how we will keep
them white from here on out . . . and be content . . .
because really, the plan is to build sometime in the not-so-far-off future . . .
The benefits of living in a “temporary” home are that you can kind of play around
and discover likes an dislikes (at least with paint colors)
and maybe it will help me be a little more decisive about what I like/want
when the time comes to someday build a house.

children giggling and talking in bed.
It’s naptime.
They should be sleeping by now.
They usually are by this time.
Don’t know what’s with them today
except that D has been hyper all day long.
Birthday Party aftershock, jitters??

to enjoy myself to the max while husband is away for 24 hours.
I don’t like when he goes, but then,
I kind of get that free ”single” feeling again
(is that even possible if I still have to take care of 3 children??)
which makes me stay up late to read or watch a movie,
sleep in in the morning (relative term),
go buzzing off to wherever I want to, whenever I want to.
Well, I mean, I have the free feeling that I *could* if I wanted . . .
but practicality (3 others with me)
usually means I don’t get too carried away.
It’s kind of weird how that works.
And I guess that’s why, as much as I think I’m gonna party hardy while he’s gone,
in the end it’s usually a little more boring than if he’d actually be here.
And maybe that’s why I don’t really like when he leaves in the first place.

all of those books I’ve mentioned in previous day book entries.
I think I have always had several books started . . .
for as far back as I can remember.
But I am determined to finish at least one of them this next week.
Maybe two!

Did I mention recently how cluttered my mind feels about
my drawers
and cupboards
and closets?
Well most of them.
The master bedroom closet is doing well at the moment
But as for many other little corners,
they better beware!
I would love to know how others
in small places organize and keep things functional!
I’m not talking about ordinary day-time messiness.
The things that frustrate me so much are the things that we (think) we have to have.
Books,
Clothes,
Flower Vases
Craft/Sewing things,
Wrapping paper & accessories,
Shoes,
All the baby stuff (that we really do use),
Games,
Kitchen/Pantry appliances
The folding table and extra chairs,
Blankets
Things like empty boxes & baskets to use in mailing things or gift giving
are examples of things I don’t even think about keeping . . .
but then will spend money on when I need it.
Seems wasteful, but feel it’s my only choice at times.
And on and one it goes.

Does it sound like I’m complaining?
I don’t mean to.
Just saying why I get bogged down with things.
I know it’s probably a stage that a growing family goes through in a small place.
And I’m not naturally organized. I love when things are organized, but find it hard to keep it that way.
I’d like to feel sane and “collected” (no pun intended) while I do live in a small place.
Is it possible?
(There really are benefits to our place which I love!
Not many rooms to clean and we own it free & clear!)
So, once again I find myself looking critically at each and every thing.

If I ever get rid of something you’ve given me.
Please don’t take offense.
If I ever have “seller’s regret” which has already happened a time or two,
please just sympathize and encourage.
I’d certainly keep a lot more under different circumstances.
But then too,
I often think of how much I have in comparison to others,
and how little of this “stuff” is really important.
So I understand that all of this is good for me.
To learn to be content with less,
to be able to allow things to pass into and back out of my life again
 vs. hoarding it all and needing a storage unit to stack it in??
Never could really understand that one.

Ah yes, the complications of the American life.
I love it. Kind of like, “If that’s all you have to worry about, then you are so blessed”, right?

Fresh cut flowers.
Tulips especially!!

a picture . . .

This photo was taken several weeks ago when mom was here to spend time with us.
[And spring time had obviously not yet arrived!]
What lovely times we had with her!